Sixth Squid - Giggling Squid Announces New Openings
The Giggling Squid chain of Thai restaurants has announced new openings in Reigate and Marlow, with the recruitment of a Property Director, who will oversee the Group's expansion to 80 sites within seven years.
Following building delays to a £350,000 development in Reigate, caused by the discovery of a 60 cubic metre tunnel beneath the 250 year old property, a sixth Giggling Squid is now on schedule to open on 30th June 2013.
Following pre-publicity in the local press and on radio, eager locals have been 
Giggling Squid co owners Andrew and Pranee Laurillard have also signed a 20-year lease on a 300 year old building in Marlow. The former Mexican restaurant site, which had 104 covers, is being remodelled with a £250,000 investment, which is being part-funded by landlord contribution.
Market research suggested that residents of the Buckinghamshire town whose only other south east Asian dining venue is a branch of Thai Square, would welcome a new high quality Thai restaurant. Marlow is also dominated by Italian chains.
Giggling Squid has also head hunted Charles Lowe, formerly of St Quintin (CBRE) and Edward Erdman (Colliers), as its Property Director to head up its property division and oversee the expansion and has identified, and is negotiating on, five further sites across the south east, which it expects to open within this financial year.
We expect to encounter growth issues when we reach 10 sites and need to put in another management tier - but we are already experiencing significant economies of scale and we learn with each new opening. There are no national Thai restaurant chains despite the increasing popularity of the cuisine - we intend to be the first - it's all about getting the food right.
For more information on menus and bookings visit www.gigglingsquid.com